Book contents
- Frontmatter
- PREFACE
- Contents
- LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
- ERRATA
- GLOSSARY OF JAPANESE WORDS
- INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER
- LETTER I
- LETTER II
- LETTER III
- LETTER IV
- LETTER V
- LETTER VI
- LETTER VII
- LETTER VIII
- LETTER IX
- LETTER IX.—(Continued.)
- LETTER X
- LETTER XI
- LETTER XII
- LETTER XIII
- LETTER XIII.—(Continued.)
- LETTER XIII.—(Completed.)
- LETTER XIV
- LETTER XV
- LETTER XV.—(Concluded)
- LETTER XVI
- LETTER XVII
- LETTER XVIII
- NOTES ON MISSIONS IN NIIGATA
- LETTER XIX
- LETTER XX
- LETTER XXI
- LETTER XXI.—(Concluded.)
- NOTES ON FOOD AND COOKERY
- LETTER XXII
- LETTER XXIII
- LETTER XXIV
- LETTER XXV
- LETTER XXV.—(Continued.)
- LETTER XXV.—(Concluded.)
- LETTER XXVI
- LETTER XXVII
- LETTER XXVIII
- LETTER XXIX
- LETTER XXX
- LETTER XXXI
- LETTER XXXII
- LETTER XXXIII
- LETTER XXXIII.—(Continued.)
- LETTER XXXIV
- LETTER XXXV
- LETTER XXXVI
- LETTER XXXVII
- Map of Japan
LETTER XIII.—(Continued.)
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 July 2011
- Frontmatter
- PREFACE
- Contents
- LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
- ERRATA
- GLOSSARY OF JAPANESE WORDS
- INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER
- LETTER I
- LETTER II
- LETTER III
- LETTER IV
- LETTER V
- LETTER VI
- LETTER VII
- LETTER VIII
- LETTER IX
- LETTER IX.—(Continued.)
- LETTER X
- LETTER XI
- LETTER XII
- LETTER XIII
- LETTER XIII.—(Continued.)
- LETTER XIII.—(Completed.)
- LETTER XIV
- LETTER XV
- LETTER XV.—(Concluded)
- LETTER XVI
- LETTER XVII
- LETTER XVIII
- NOTES ON MISSIONS IN NIIGATA
- LETTER XIX
- LETTER XX
- LETTER XXI
- LETTER XXI.—(Concluded.)
- NOTES ON FOOD AND COOKERY
- LETTER XXII
- LETTER XXIII
- LETTER XXIV
- LETTER XXV
- LETTER XXV.—(Continued.)
- LETTER XXV.—(Concluded.)
- LETTER XXVI
- LETTER XXVII
- LETTER XXVIII
- LETTER XXIX
- LETTER XXX
- LETTER XXXI
- LETTER XXXII
- LETTER XXXIII
- LETTER XXXIII.—(Continued.)
- LETTER XXXIV
- LETTER XXXV
- LETTER XXXVI
- LETTER XXXVII
- Map of Japan
Summary
I dont wonder that the Japanese rise early, for their evenings are cheerless, owing to the dismal illumination. In this and other houses the lamp consists of a square or circular lacquer stand, with four uprights 2½ feet high, and panes of white paper. A flatted iron dish is suspended in this full of oil, with the pith of a rush with a weight in the centre laid across it, and one of the projecting ends is lighted. This wretched apparatus is called an andon, and round its wretched “darkness visible” the family huddles, the children to play games and learn lessons, and the women to sew; for the Japanese daylight is short and the houses are dark. Almost more deplorable is a candlestick of the same height as the andon, with a spike at the top which fits into a hole at the bottom of a “farthing candle” of vegetable wax, with a thick wick made of rolled paper, which requires constant snuffing, and, after giving for a short time a dim and jerky light, expires with a bad smell. Lamps, burning mineral oils, native and imported, are being manufactured on a large scale, but apart from the peril connected with them, the carriage of oil into country districts is very expensive. No Japanese would think of sleeping without having an andon burning all night in his room.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Unbeaten Tracks in JapanAn Account of Travels in the Interior, Including Visits to the Aborigines of Yezo and the Shrines of Nikkô and Isé, pp. 137 - 141Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010First published in: 1880